The trusted information you need before buying California forestland- all in one place.
Whether you're looking at properties with pines or oaks, many forest, fire, and financial considerations transcend forest ecosystems. Our Forest Stewardship team has compiled resources that every prospective landowner can reference to feel confident in their buying decision.
Register for the upcoming "Before you Buy" webinar series today!
BEFORE YOU BUY WEBINARS
UC ANR's Forest Stewardship and Fire Network teams have partnered to bring a three-part "Before you Buy" webinar series to prospective landowners. Each webinar session will address a different facet of landownership: Forest Stewardship Considerations, Living with Wildfire Risk, and Financial Practicalities of Owning Forestland.
Join all three sessions to hear expert advice from UC ANR academics and current forest landowners! See below for more session details and the sign up link.
Session 1: Forest Stewardship Considerations
- This session has concluded. View the webinar on the UC Forestry and Range YouTube.
- What: Motivations for purchasing forestland, forest conditions, living in the woods, and more.
WATCH this session on YouTube!
DOWNLOAD this session's newsletter!
Session 2: Living with Wildfire Risk
- This session has concluded. View the webinar on the UC Forestry and Range YouTube.
- What: Risk and evacuation planning, defensible space requirements, home hardening, prescribed fire, and more.
WATCH this session on YouTube!
DOWNLOAD this session's newsletter!
Session 3: Financial Practicalities of Owning Forestland
- When: Thursday December 11, 6:00-7:30 PM
- Where: Zoom
- What: Insurance, collaboration efforts, conservation easements, and more.
DOWNLOAD this session's newsletter!
REGISTER FOR THE SERIES
RESOURCES
Fact sheets, newsletters, videos, and more to assist you on your buying journey.
TOP 5 RESOURCESFive quick-glance resources you'll want on hand when considering purchasing forestland. | |
| Fact Sheet: Forest management plans and why you need one! (UC ANR) | Why you'll want this: Long-term thinking is the backbone of effective forest stewardship, and it all starts with a forest management plan. This fact sheet is a great way to start thinking about the reasons why you want to own forestland, what you hope to see in the future, and how those ideas become goals and objectives you can implement. |
| Webpage: Wildfire Preparedness- Preparing your Landscape (UC ANR) | Why you'll want this: When you own forestland, creating a fire-resilient landscape is of high importance. Make sure to visit the "Defensible Space Zones" link to see a list of common landowner activities for reducing fire risk on forested landscapes. |
| Fact Sheet: Financial aspects of owning forestland (UC ANR) | Why you'll want this: Owning forestland opens up a new world of record-keeping for tax purposes. This fact sheet outlines common tax codes you may encounter as a landowner, tips for keeping track of your management costs, and links to other helpful websites. This fact sheet was prepared by former IRS forester and current forest landowner Lawrence Camp! Note that this document is for educational purposes only. |
| Publication: Forest Stewardship Series 24: Professional Assistance (UC ANR) | Why you'll want this: How do you go about hiring the best foresters, contractors, and loggers? Start with Stewardship Series 24, which outlines best practices for interviewing and selecting professionals you can trust. Make sure to view Table 1 on page 5, which lists the certifications for various forestry professionals, and the organizations associated with each title. |
| Fact sheet: Post-fire considerations for forest landowners (UC ANR) | Why you'll want this: Interested in restoring a burned parcel of forestland? This fact sheet is a quick primer, offering tips for assessing post-fire landscapes, guidance for post-fire treatments, and recommended organizations to contact for technical assistance. |
If you are curious about:
- The forest landowner experience
- Evaluating forest health
- Estimating the time needed to manage a parcel
Visit our page of curated FOREST STEWARDSHIP RESOURCES.
If your concerns include:
- Fire preparedness
- Using prescribed fire
- Rehabilitating burned forestland
Visit our page of LIVING WITH WILDFIRE RESOURCES.
If you want to learn more about:
- Programs to help offset the cost of management activities
- Taxes as a landowner
- Planning for the future
Visit our page of FINANCIAL PRACTICALITIES RESOURCES.